Thinking Religion is a podcast hosted by The Revs. Merianna Neely Harrelson and Sam Harrelson tackling various topics that deal with the intersection of religion, the Bible, faith, and culture.
Sam is joined by Dave Maxfield, a consumer protection attorney in Columbia, SC to discuss how he applies lessons from other businesses to his own law firm. The discuss revenue, average unit values, throughput rates, cycle time, the concept of the block, Trello, and productivity. This is a fascinating discussion of how to do business better! Topics Discussed: Thinking Differently About Revenue How to Structure Getting Paid in a New Way Developing Your Own Formula for Understanding Profit Average Unit Values of Production Throughput Rate Cycle Time (Where We Get Killed) Why Do Things Get Blocked? A Lot of Things Get Caught at the End
Matthew Klippenstein is an Engineer écrivain (technical writing, not PR) in the electric vehicle and clean energy space from British Columbia. Sam discusses demographics, religiosity in pandemics, the boom in clean energy, and the concept of ClimateTech with Matthew this week. Special Guest: Matthew Klippenstein.
Thomas Whitley is the Chief of Staff for Mayor John Dailey's office in Tallahassee, Florida. In this episode, we discuss what Tallahassee is doing to help citizens and small businesses deal with the economic impacts of Covid as well as marketing efforts that the Mayor's Office is undertaking to get the word out about those efforts.
Today I'm thinking about specialized marketing. As a case study, we look at Morning Light. This is a new book of poetry (or a devotional) from The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson looking to address a variety of audiences looking for a similar value proposition. Let's think about how each of our marketing efforts impact what we're trying to accomplish and how well we're actually doing what needs to be done. Special Guest: Merianna Neely Harrelson.
We'll get back to Genesis, but here's a test recording I did when we were reading through Jonah for Thinking Religion. Here are some quick thoughts on Jonah's final encounter with God after Nineveh proves to be a little more receptive than first thought... Text available here: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=176000971
Another creation story, how we get from Adam to Noah, and Sumerian King List (with a little Dylan)
SC voting stuff, iOS 14 is out, I'm making steaks tonight, and we get into the origins of civilizations with ... polyamory. Lamech and Seth.
Today, we go over salmon recipes, Documentary Hypothesis, J's and G's in German, our new farming unit at homeschool with the 4 year old, and the tragic story of Cain and Abel and the Mark of Cain. Where did Cain's wife come from?? Listen and let's find out.
Q&A and follow up from Gen 3:20-24 post
This week we take a look back on a fascinating week of religion news and discuss how to talk to people who don't think the same way you do before closing out with a little history lesson on Acts 4-5.
Merianna and Sam discuss church schedules, life of the pastor's spouse, missing Sunday morning worship, Micah 6:8, and high church baptists.
This week, Revs. Merianna Neely Harrelson and Sam Harrelson discuss canonization, the politics of commentaries, Jonah's Whale, interpretation history, Doomsday Clock, Harrowing of Hell, and masturbation lessons from Sunday School.
Bonus episode here as the main show will be coming out a little later this week. This is audio from Sam's sermon on John 1:29-42 this past Sunday at Garden of Grace UCC in Columbia, SC about sin, community, identity, and why he started going to church.
Sam is joined by The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson to discuss how she approaches Acts in church Bible studies, canonization, ascension vs resurrection vs transfiguration, the problem with a seminary education, and 4 listener questions. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Ancient Rite" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sam is joined by Matthew Klippenstein this week to discuss fracturing of denominations, late dating of biblical texts, what an American has to learn from a Canadian, why the Dalai Lama might want to consider the lilies, and why ACTS might be the best book in the New Testament. Special Guest: Matthew Klippenstein.
Big news in this one… we’re coming back weekly for 2020! Starting around New Year’s Day, we’ll be back with all new guests and voices (and voices of guests) as well as some fun book giveaways, and a number of insider downloads drawing from the show’s past (and present and future). Merry Christmas from Merianna, Sam, and the Harrelson family and more soon! (We also have an exciting new podcast studio that we'll be discussing)...
Merianna and Sam discuss cultural transitions and how churches of all sizes and shapes are positioning themselves in the midst of societal shifts.
Merianna and Sam discuss the notion of generational divides in politics, mattress buying, and church attendance.
Merianna and Sam discuss old friends, new parenting techniques while attempting to figure out what makes the church different from the garden club.
Merianna and Sam (and newborn Baby Girl) discuss insider language in denominations, the LGBTQ question facing the United Methodist Church, narrative preaching, and the difficulties of studying for a sermon in 2019 in the age of unlimited entertainment.
Merianna and Sam tackle Instagram Stories, performative social media, and generational gender divides in reading the Scripture.
Merianna and Sam discuss Instagram Bible studies, reading the whole Bible in a year, and the search for authenticity in a time of societal shifts.
The Rev. Lauren Larkin joins Sam to discuss birthing pangs in Genesis, the merits of demythologizing, and Dialectical Theology in the 21st Century. Special Guest: Lauren R.E. Larkin.
Ready for the next episode? Here we go! THINKING RELIGION is coming back in August :)
Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss things we pass down and the best way to sign off.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the term "partners" in its modern context and whether or not it is performative for certain couples. That leads to a discussion about the role of social media in our lives if we could, in fact, delete Facebook.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Samuel Harrelson discuss The Great Social Media Reckoning of 2018, broadcast media vs social media, why you need a website (and why your church needs a GOOD website), and the importance of bringing it all back home.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss boys' weekends, gender assumptions, the Documentary Hypothesis, the historicity of the Gospels, and Justice850.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the fierce urgency of now, and why the church should be the gadflies of tension in a time of transition.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss British trivia shows, the concept of literacy in the ancient world, what accent Jesus might have had, and whether we now have historical proof of the prophet Isaiah.
Dr. Thomas Whitely and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss wearing Clerical Collars every day, our country's normalized hermeneutic of violence, and a new podcast.
Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss beards, Life on Mars, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's hiring policy (and past, present, future).
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss toxic masculinity and compare Trump with Jesus, Apple's woes, and voice assistants.
Dr. Thomas J. Whitley and The Rev. Samuel B. Harrelson play HQ Trivia and go to The Good Place to discuss Squab Goals. “My name is Kierkegaard and my writing is impeccable. Check out my teleological suspension of the ethical.”
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss quantum hacks, the evolution of reality TV and its impact on our Gen X lives, and why 2020 will be a different political landscape than 2016.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the Bomb Cyclone, The Myth of Progress, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook, Lectionaries and conflating Gospels, and the need for a new political dialogue in our country.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss nativity scenes, bad Christmas songs, Epiphany, the War on Christmas, and bad Apple (batteries). Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined by The Rev. Lauren E. Larkin, Prof. W. Travis McMaken ("McBacon"), and The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson in an extravaganza of epic proportions. They discuss Clash of the Titans, why you should write a book, gendered religious language, Ancient Aliens, Alex Jones, flogging, and hate watching the world burn. Special Guests: Lauren R.E. Larkin, Merianna Neely Harrelson, and W. Travis McMaken.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the #metoo Revolution, amplifying voices, and whether anything is worth trading your integrity.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss Black Friday, gaming, moral questions, Evangelical strawmen, and complicity.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and the Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined by Prof. Chris Frilingos to discuss his book "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph: Family Trouble in the Infancy Gospels" and why the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and Proto-Gospel of James are so important for contemporary audiences. Special Guest: Christopher A. Frilingos.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson watch election returns together and discuss the impact of our choices and the role of our national patience.
Sam is joined by The Rev. Merianna Neely Harrelson to discuss beards, doubt, faith, securing your spot in The Good Place or The Bad Place, ethics and eschatology, rededicating your life, and salvation bracelets. Special Guest: Merianna Neely Harrelson.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss the iPhone X, Airpods and Mods, prepping for the coming apocalypses, Heaven's Gate, and the theologies of nativism.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss anniversaries and birthdays in the Facebook age, whether the Vikings referenced Allah in their gear, and why "The Dark Ages" is such a troublesome concept (and why we're currently in the midst of The Digital Dark Age).
Love of books, Kindle vs hardbacks, home ownership, hell, sex, generational divides, and epistemology
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson talk about phone problems and promises, growing up, and the finale of the First Thinking Religion Bible Bracket Challenge Extravaganza. Podium Winners: Gold: Mark Silver: Matthew Bronze: 1 Samuel
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson are joined again by David Ray Allen Jr. to cover the Final Four of the Bible Bracket Challenge. It gets bloody this week. Special Guest: David Ray Allen Jr..
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson compare their phones' home screens, discuss the relevance of Facebook to political campaigns, and continue the very contentious Bible Bracket Challenge Elite 8 Round to decide the Final Four. It's on.
Dr. Thomas Whitley and Rev. Sam Harrelson discuss new iPhones, playing the expectations game, and how mobile devices have transformed learning and worshipping. Then, they launch into the "Sweet 16" of the Bible Brackets Challenge. Sorry, Esther.
The Rev. Lauren Larkin joins Dr. Thomas Whitley and The Rev. Sam Harrelson in a discussion of how hermeneutics and worldviews affect our theologies and what sort of spaces we try to build. Special Guest: Lauren R.E. Larkin.
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